The Ecumenicism of Illiteracy

March 31, 2013

The Ecumenicism of Illiteracy in another tone would be Ignorance.

“Ecumenism mainly refers to initiatives aimed at greater Christian unity or cooperation. It is used predominantly by and with reference to Christian denominations and Christian Churches separated by doctrine, history, and practice. Within this particular context, the term ecumenism refers to the idea of a Christian unity in the literal meaning: that there should be a single Church.” Wikipedia

Jeremiah twenty-three: beginning nine

Among the prophets, my heart is broken within me, and all my bones are shaken. I am a broken-down man overcome with wine, because of the Lord’s presence and excellence of His glory. Because of these things, the land mourns and the pastures and deserts are dried up, and so has their strength.

For both prophet and priest are defiled, and I see their evils within My house, says the Lord. Therefore let their way be to them as a fall into the darkness; and they shall be tripped up and fall therein, because in the year of their visitation I will bring calamities upon them.

16 Thus says the Lord Almighty: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets, for they invent a futile vision for themselves. They speak from their own heart, and not from the mouth of the Lord …

I actually heard a priest tell his bible camp that the Old Testament was not worth exploring. I was not a member of the class, but I was stunned. What was interesting in this is that they all seemed to believe him. I suppose, if, let’s say, the OT was written in Nigerian, and these did not speak Nigerian, I could understand the lack of effort. But I must ask: who takes a Q-Tip and uses only one end?

And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

But there were false teachers among the people, even as there are false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who brought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgement has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. 2 Peter 1. 19 -2.3

One must consider who, exactly, The LORD is referring to when He speaks of false priests and false prophets. I had a discussion with someone recently on the manner of Truth. This person said that he does not believe there is only one Truth, as in one right way. First, if you look at the word orthodox, you have the Greek orthos, meaning straight or right, and the Orthodox Church translates this as correct behavior or right behavior (Greek Orthodoxy). Now, in order to understand the Mysteries in an orthodox manner, it is necessary to appeal to behavior. It cannot be an opinion, or dogma, or even agenda, for, as we all know, this varies widely. It is by their fruits you will know them.

If looking at this – seeing this- hearing this – EXPERIENCING this – SPIRITUALLY, not Religiously, but Spiritually, you come to know how God Understanding is sorely misconstrued. Go way way back to the early worker of the Christ Way, before Roman Catholicism, or any other Religion having laid claims to God’s Word, and you have gnosis, not a Religion. Lord says: The harvest is truly great, but the workers are few.Luke 10.2 Gnosis is knowledge. Gnostic is known. So, the imperative reality here is … Where are you in this?

Where are you? I cannot begin to tell you how important this is in God Understanding. It’s not so much about where your butt sits, or even where you stand in the line; it is about where your mind works, and where it rests (see essay I Never Knew You). So the last will be first,and the first will be last. Matthew 20.16. I experience this God Reality as shut the door behind you. You are alone, but not lonely. It’s between you and God, but come to understand how all things form the One. In this, universalism – ecumenism – does not apply. So why allow it into your heart?

Consider the multitude of religious sects, and let’s pair this down to Christianity, as ecumenism being addressed here is primarily of this Religion. Within Christianity alone, belief and faith varies significantly. Understanding of the Godhood varies most dramatically. I have recently begun to wonder if children born and raised in these families were given some of the gnostic literature to read, would they have a healthier and more loving view of God, and mankind. Many would agree, something needs to be done. I believe a child will engage in esoteric literature far differently than an adult. Most adults would probably consider it illogical, or worse, deadly. Unfortunately, the reaction to these proved deadly, mostly out of fear. Fear can drive agenda, as well as power and control.

By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgement has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.2 Peter 2.3

Ecumenism is artifactual. Understand this. An artifact is something made by man, and to make it fact in terms of Truth on God is artificial. It’s fake representation. This is not saying that all art is fake. This is not saying that fact is false. This is saying that man is in error of himself in his art of God. How does one commune with God? The answer is actually quite simple: Prayer. Where people run into problems is wherethey do not know how to pray. To borrow a Realtor term, it’s location, location, location. Where are you? Prayer, prayer prayer. But not just prayer, but a question of where you are in this. It’s prayer of the heart, and one must see this as a continuous stream, an ever flowing, unrestrained, unconfined, unsettled(yes, unsettled) current. This is what it means to ASCEND WITH HEART TO MIND. Grow yourself spiritually tall! Stretch in the Lord through God Relationship.

Among the prophets, my heart is broken within me, and all my bones are shaken. I am a broken-down man overcome with wine, because of the Lord’s presence and excellence of His glory. Because of these things, the land mourns and the pastures and deserts are dried up, and so has their strength.

What is being illustrated in the above from Jeremiah? Among those like me, I am of a nurtured existence, decreasing that God may increase. My flesh is of no consequence. It rattles like a fleshless skeleton. My manliness is formed of Truth, broken-down that Sophia may rebuild. The existence of the Lord within me allows for the EXCELLENCE of His Glory to shine. Land, pastures, deserts are of nothing if not FOR His Glory. In comparison to the Great I am (Lord), these are without strength. Without the Great I am, these are fruitless.

God’s Word is not up for interpretation, brothers and sisters; it’s up for experience. And it is not up for reduction or varied truths on correctness. There is only one Truth, for it is Living. The reduction comes in us losing religious weight to reach spiritual heights. And please understand, Religion can be anything. It can be property you own as easily as it can be a denomination you pay or preach or ‘pray’ in. In John, Jesus says: I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH , AND THE LIFE … AND NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME. Easily enough, He is saying, ‘I am Light in you,’ but if you allow yourself to feed on error, you get fogged in. The lights grow dim. The exterior may look pretty, but the inside is muck and mire, and you stumble along like an ox tied to an ass, never making it in the way, or on the path. In time, the image wears, and any new wine cannot find room at the inn.

Now, calling this essay Ecumenism of Ignorance, or Illiteracy, is not meant to be an insult, but rather an aspiration. Why settle for ecumenism, which is not necessarily void of truth, but does harbor enormous untruth? To visualize this, imagine a stringer full of many different types and sizes of fish attached to a man’s leg. It’s not wrong to fish, but how long must the fish be hooked to the side of a man’s leg? Why label yourself anything? Why call yourselves anything but how God sees you? If you lied to your neighbor, you are a liar, and no title of any kind means a darn in God Realty. Will you blame ecumenism for your failure? People usually do. Nice try. If your Hospital denies healing to its patients, do you want to align yourself with this malpractice? If you deny Truth to self by filling up on a bunch of sugary snacks, the celebratory meal will not fulfill as God desires in relating to you. Remember, it is said: I NEVER KNEW YOU. If you care on the manner of Truth, when He asks, ‘where are you?’ then you care to be found.